Argus Media is the latest organisation to launch a pricing service for low-carbon ammonia, following on from CRU and S&P Global Commodity Insights. The services build on existing methodologies, assumptions and trade routes for fossil-based ammonia.
A high-profile consortium will conduct a joint study exploring ammonia bunkering at the Port of Savannah in Georgia, USA. The consortium aims to establish a comprehensive supply chain to allow ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering in Savannah, and the study scope includes design of an Ammonia Bunkering Articulated Tug-Barge (AB-ATB) vessel.
The Adams Fork Energy clean ammonia project will produce up to 2.16 million tonnes per year of ammonia, based on gas feedstock and CCS. The project will serve as the anchor for the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub, one of a number of applications being considered by the US Department of Energy for funding as part of a $7 billion jump-start program.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute report that ammonia was successfully used as a reductant to convert iron ore to sponge iron in a laboratory-scale reactor. The direct use of ammonia effectively offers a “process shortcut” in green steelmaking, removing the need for ammonia cracking or the extra costs associated with the transport & storage of hydrogen.
IRENA and RMI’s new report Creating a global hydrogen market: Certification to enable trade concludes that there are significant gaps and conflicts in current certification schemes. Inconsistent labelling thresholds, accounting boundaries, and production pathways are the main areas of concern. The report offers several recommendations to support the harmonisation of certification frameworks, warning that schemes cannot continue to develop in a “patchwork” manner.
Peak industry body Hydrogen Europe has released a new report on the potential of clean ammonia production & utilisation in Europe. Although the introduction of renewable hydrogen feedstock presents an obvious opportunity to decarbonise the ammonia industry in Europe, the potential downstream applications of ammonia energy are being neglected by policymakers - particularly power generation and maritime fuel.
ADNOC, Currenta GmbH and the North Rhine-Westphalia state government will cooperate on the production, transportation to Germany and subsequent application of low-carbon ammonia fuel. Industrial-scale testing of ammonia fuel for power generation will take place at one of Currenta’s chemical manufacturing sites in the region.
The coalition of industry first-movers has announced three new members and an expanded target for electrolyser deployment (45 GW amongst its members by 2026). Ammonia energy players Power2X, Hy Stor Energy and ReNew Power all joined last month.
The second phase of the NoGAPS project is well underway. Led by the Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, a detailed plan for the design, operation and business case for the future MS NoGAPS vessel will be developed. Construction and delivery is expected in 2024-25. Also in Scandinavia, Viridis Bulk Carriers has been awarded AiP from Bureau Veritas for its ammonia-fueled, short-sea, bulk carrier design.
OCI Global will supply clean ammonia to Korea from this year as part of a new agreement with Lotte Fine Chemical. The pair will also develop a global ammonia bunkering network by leveraging their existing infrastructure. Meanwhile, CF Industries and Lotte Chemical will explore new opportunities for clean ammonia production on the US Gulf Coast, as well as long-term off take to South Korea.